Begonia plant named ‘BKPBECRM’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘BKPBECRM’, characterized by its broadly upright to outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; sturdy plants with freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; and single-type female flowers and fully double male flowers that are dark red in color.

Botanical designation: Begonia×hiemalis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BKPBECRM’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Begonia Plant Named ‘BKPBECLR’

Applicant: Annie Cornelia Beekenkamp

Filed: Concurrently with the instant application

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant, botanically known as Begonia×hiemalis, commercially referred to as Elatior Begonia and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘BKPBECRM’.

The new Begonia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new freely branching and freely flowering Begonia plants with attractive flowers.

The new Begonia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in March, 2013 of a proprietary selection of Begonia×hiemalis identified as code number 6900484, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Begonia×hiemalis identified as code number 6500604, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Begonia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in November, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia plant by vegetative tip cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands since February, 2014 has shown that the unique features of this new Begonia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BKPBECRM’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BKPBECRM’ as a new and distinct Begonia plant:

-   -   1. Broadly upright to outwardly spreading and mounded plant         habit.     -   2. Sturdy plants with freely basal branching habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Uniform and freely flowering habit.     -   5. Single-type female flowers and fully double male flowers that         are dark red in color.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia and the female parent selection         differ in leaf texture as plants of the female parent selection         have pubescent leaves.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have orange yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia and the male parent selection         differ in flower form as plants of the male parent selection         only have single-type flowers.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have pale pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the Begonia×hiemalis ‘BKPBECLR’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 14/999,404 filed concurrently. Plants of the new Begonia differ from plants of ‘BKPBECLR’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are shorter than plants of         ‘BKPBECLR’.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia and ‘BKPBECLR’ differ in leaf color         as plants of ‘BKPBECLR’ have very dark-colored leaves.     -   3. Male flowers of plants of the new Begonia have more tepaloids         than male flowers of plants of ‘BKPBECLR’.

Plants of the new Begonia can also be compared to plants of the Begonia×hiemalis ‘Baladin’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Begonia differ from plants of ‘Baladin’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are more vigorous than plants of         ‘Baladin’.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia are more freely branching than         plants of ‘Baladin’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Begonia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Begonia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BKPBECRM’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet are close-up views of upper and lower surfaces of typical fully developed male flowers and leaves of ‘BKPBECRM’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements were grown during the winter in 12-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 19° to 21° C. Plants were ten weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia×hiemalis ‘BKPBECRM’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Begonia×hiemalis identified as code number 6900484, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Begonia×hiemalis identified as code number 6500604, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative tip cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 20 days at temperatures about             25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 35 to 36 days at             temperatures about 21° C. to 23° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically brown in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,             substrate temperature and physiological age of roots; plants             of the new Begonia have not been observed to form tubers.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching habit; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Broadly upright to outwardly             spreading and mounded plant habit; plant shape flattened             globular; moderately vigorous growth habit; moderate growth             rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 18.7             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 20.4             cm.         -   Plant width.—About 35.1 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Freely             branching habit with about four basal branches developing             per plant; each basal branch with about three lateral             branches; pinching is not required. Length: About 12.3 cm.             Diameter: About 9 mm. Internode length: About 2.1 cm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 35° from             vertical. Texture and luster: Sparsely pubescent; glossy.             Color, developing: Close to 170A. Color, fully developed:             Close to 152A.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:             About 12.6 cm. Width: About 9.7 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex:             Acute. Base: Oblique, moderately imbricate. Margin: Crenate             to serrulate; strongly undulate. Texture and luster, upper             surface: Glabrous; slightly velvety; moderately glossy.             Texture and luster, lower surface: Sparsely pubescent along             veins; moderately glossy. Venation pattern: Laciniate.             Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Darker than between             NN137A and 147A; narrow margin, close to 183A. Developing             leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; narrow margin, close             to 183A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker than             between 147A and N189A; narrow margin, close to 178B;             venation, close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 148B; narrow margin, close to 178B;             venation, close to 144A. Petioles: Length: About 5.2 cm.             Diameter: About 5 mm. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Moderately pubescent; moderately glossy. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 166B; distally, close to             181A to 181B. Stipules: Quantity per leaf: Two. Length:             About 1.1 cm. Width: About 1.3 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate.             Apex: Obtuse. Base: Broadly cuneate. Margins: Entire. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144C; towards the             margins, tinged with close to 180C to 180D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Rotate single-type female flowers and fully             double male flowers arranged in axillary compound cymes;             freely flowering habit with about four flowers per cyme and             about 140 flowers developing per plant; flowers face upright             to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period, plants             flower freely and continuously from spring into the autumn             in The Netherlands; during the winter in a greenhouse,             plants begin flowering about 46 days after exposure to             photoinductive treatments.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Individual flowers last about ten             days on the plant; flowers not persistent; plants maintain             good substance for about 20 to 30 days in an interior             environment.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 6.3 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 8.1 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.1 cm. Diameter, flattened:             About 2 cm. Shape: Broadly obovate to roughly circular;             flattened. Texture and luster: Glabrous, velvety; very             slightly glossy. Color: Close to 42B to 42C.         -   Female flowers.—Diameter: About 5.1 cm. Depth: About 2.6 cm.             Tepals: Quantity and arrangement: Five per flower, arranged             in two whorls. Length: About 3.4 cm. Width: About 3.5 cm.             Shape: Broadly obovate to roughly reniform. Apex: Rounded.             Base: Reniform. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper             surface: Glabrous; velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower             surface: Glabrous; moderately velvety; matte to slightly             glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to N45A.             When opening, lower surface: Close to between 42A and 45A.             Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 45B; color does not             fade with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to             45A; color does not fade with development. Tepaloids: None             observed on female flowers.         -   Male flowers.—Diameter: About 5.1 cm. Depth: About 2.6 cm.             Tepals: Quantity and arrangement: Two per flower, opposite.             Length: About 3.4 cm. Width: About 3.5 cm. Shape: Broadly             obovate to roughly reniform. Apex: Rounded. Base: Reniform.             Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Glabrous;             velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface: Glabrous;             moderately velvety; matte to slightly glossy. Color: When             opening, upper surface: Close to N45A. When opening, lower             surface: Close to between 42A and 45A. Fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 45B; color does not fade with development.             Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 45A; color does not             fade with development. Tepaloids: Quantity and arrangement:             About 30 per flower, arranged in multiple whorls at the             center of the flower. Length: Variable, about 1.1 cm to             2.4 cm. Width: Variable, about 0.9 cm to 2.6 cm. Shape:             Broadly obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Broadly attenuate.             Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Glabrous; velvety; matte. Color: When opening,             upper surface: Close to 45B. When opening, lower surface:             Close to 45A to 45B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to             45A; color does not fade with development. Fully opened,             lower surface: Close to 44A; color does not fade with             development.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4.5 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Angle: About 35° from lateral branch axis. Strength:             Moderately strong; flexible. Texture and luster: Glabrous;             moderately glossy. Color: Close to 166B to 166C tinged with             close to 152A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Angle:             About 35° from the peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately             strong; flexible, bending with the weight of the flowers.             Texture and luster: Glabrous; glossy. Color: Close to 179A             to 179B.         -   Flower bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: Two per flower,             opposite. Length: About 1.8 cm. Width: About 1.9 cm. Shape:             Roughly reniform. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Reniform.             Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Glabrous; matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 146C; towards the apex, close to 179B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: None observed on male flowers,             all structures transformed into tepaloids. Pistils: Present             only on female flowers. Quantity per flower: Three. Length:             About 7 mm. Style length: About 2 mm. Style color: Close to             150C to 150D. Stigma diameter: About 4.5 mm. Stigma shape:             Cleft. Stigma color: Close to 23A. Ovary color: Close to             179A. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit development have not             been observed on plants of the new Begonia. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common     to Begonia plants has not been observed on plants of the new     Begonia. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed     to tolerate high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be suitable for     USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 12. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘BKPBECRM’ as illustrated and described. 